Two British nationals arrested as NDLEA intercepts opioids worth N6.5bn in Lagos, Rivers

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has intercepted opioids worth N6.524 billion at the Apapa seaport in Lagos and Port Harcourt ports in Rivers.

In a statement, Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, said the seizures followed intelligence and tracking of new trafficking routes created by drug cartels to ship illicit substances into the country.

Babafemi said six million pills of opioids and 162,000 bottles of codeine syrup were uncovered in two containers on May 19 and 20th at the Port Harcourt ports, while 170,000 bottles of codeine syrup were seized on May 22 at the Apapa ports.

“No fewer than six million pills of opioids namely: tamol 225mg, tapentadol 225mg and carisoprodol 225mg as well as 332,000 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup with a combined street value of six billion five hundred and twenty-four million naira (N6,524,000,000.00) have been intercepted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers and the Apapa seaport, Lagos,” the statement reads.

The NDLEA spokesperson noted that two British nationals, identified as Mhizha Alexander and Ayedipe Adejuwon, as well as two Nigerians —Shonowo Oluwaseun Imole and Ofuoma Omokaro Ayobami  — were apprehended at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos for attempting to smuggle 92 bags of Loud (51.10kg) into the country.

He said the operatives recovered N93,000 and 17,200 South African Rand from them while a search of their Lekki apartment led to the seizure of N3,810,500, an Apple laptop, an iPhone 14 Pro Max, and four laughing gas (Nitro Oxide) canisters.

Babafemi added that two suspects —Sunday Daniel and Abu Peter — were also arrested on May 24 after 4,000 kg of skunk were discovered concealed under unprocessed wood in their lorry in Nasarawa state.

“In Kaduna, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Kaduna – Zaria expressway at Gwargwaje on Wednesday 21st May, intercepted 22-year-old Muhammad Hamza with 57,750 pills of tramadol and diazepam, while same day their counterparts in Bauchi arrested Usman Muhammad, 45, along Bauchi-Misau road with 80 blocks of skunk weighing 45kg,” Babafemi said.

“Similarly, operatives on stop-and-search operations along Potiskum–Damaturu road, Yobe state intercepted 55 parcels of Colorado, weighing 2kg, which a suspect Adum Muhammed, 29, was attempting to smuggle into the Republic of Chad through Ngamboru Ngala border town in Borno State.

“In Niger state, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Mokwa-Jebba road on Thursday 22nd May intercepted a Mercedes Benz car marked FST 938 FU loaded with 235 blocks of compressed cannabis sativa weighing 97kg and arrested a suspect, Adams Ayibakro.

“This is even as operatives in Lagos raided the Osapa London area of Lekki where they arrested a suspect Jonathan Isa with different quantities of Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Molly, Rohypnol, Codeine, Cannabis and Nitrous Oxide while another raid at Idasun, Eleko, Ibeju Lekki on Saturday 24th May led to the arrest of Olamilekan Idowu and seizure of 48kg skunk.”